Occurrence of the protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Cyclospora cayetanensis in the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus from the Lesina Lagoon (SE Italy)

The occurrence of the protozoan parasites Toxoplasma gondii and Cyclospora cayetanensis was molecularlyinvestigated in the hemolymph, gills, stomach, hepatopancreas and gonads of the eleven invasive Atlantic bluecrab Callinectes sapidus from the Lesina Lagoon (Mediterranean Sea). Out of 11 blue crabs, 6 (54.5%) and 4(36.4%) were found positive to T. gondii and C. cayetanenis, respectively; parasites were found only in the sixfemales analysed, while the remaining five males resulted negative. Moreover, out of 55 tissues samples, 7(12.7%) and 8 (14.5%) were positive to T. gondii and C. cayetanensis, respectively with hemolymph and gillsbeing the most infected tissues. This is the first report of the presence of protozoan pathogens in wild crab speciescollected from a Mediterranean lagoon. The present results may provide a baseline reference on microbialinfection in the species for invaded Mediterranean waters, and on the potential health risks related with itsconsumption if eaten raw